“The Presence of the Lord”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

Lehi feared that Laman and Lemuel might be cast off from the Presence of the Lord. This Presence is what is order Jewish writings is called the Shekinah, referring to the indwelling of the Lord in his Sanctuary. It was the Shekinah, or indwelling, also called "the Glory of the Lord" that rested on Mt. Sinai, for the Lord "called Moses out of the midst of a cloud, and the sight of the Glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel." (2 Chron. 7:1-3) The Prophet Ezekiel in his vision, sees the Shekinah departing from the temple. (Ez. 10:19; 11:22) and then again entering into the new temple. (Ez. 43:2-5) We can understand from this that to be cast out from "the Presence of the Lord" is to become spiritually lost.

What Lehi feared came, alas! to pass. (2 Ne. 5:20)

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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